(a) Requirements and prohibitions.
(1) A host may not enter into a short-term residential rental agreement with a transient guest or rent a dwelling unit to a transient guest without first obtaining an approved registration from the Department.
(2) A host may not register more than two dwelling units as short-term residential rentals.
(3) A host may be an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, or other business entity, but a dwelling unit registered by any host counts as a registration by any individual or other business entity with an ownership or financial interest in the host.
(4) The rental period for a short-term residential rental shall be no less than 24 hours.
(5) A host may not enter into a short-term residential rental agreement with a transient guest or rent a dwelling unit to a transient guest, if overdue taxes, fines, or fees are owed to the County.
(6) The host shall provide to the Department the names of all hosting platforms to be used in connection with a short-term residential rental and shall update the list within ten days after any additions or deletions.
(7) A host shall provide hosting platforms with the registration number issued by the Department for the dwelling unit.
(8) A host shall ensure that a hosting platform includes the registration number in an advertisement, listing, or post for the short-term residential rental.
(9) The host shall prominently display a sign within the dwelling unit stating that the dwelling unit is registered by the Department for short-term residential rentals and providing the registration number.
(10) For an unhosted rental, the host shall provide to the transient guest the name of a person who is available for the term of the rental and a 24-hour emergency telephone number for prompt assistance.
(11) A host shall keep records relating to all short-term residential rentals for a period of at least three years and, upon written request from the County, shall provide the records for inspection to the County.
(b) Application. A host shall file an application for registration on a form provided by the Department and shall pay the applicable fee. The registration form shall include, at a minimum:
(1) the name, mailing address, email address, and phone number(s) of the host and of all persons with an ownership or financial interest in the host;
(2) the address of the dwelling unit; a unit number, if applicable; the number of bedrooms and bathrooms in the dwelling unit; and the number of available on-site parking spaces;
(3) the host's proof of insurance for the short-term residential rental; and
(4) the host's certification under oath that the short-term residential rental property meets the minimum safety criteria set forth in the registration form.
(c) Term; renewal. Each registration has a two-year term. The host may seek to renew the registration by filing an application with the Department, together with the applicable fee, at least 30 days before the existing registration expires.
(d) Fees. The fee for the registration or renewal of a short-term residential rental is $100.00.
(e) Denial; suspension; revocation.
(1) Notice and an opportunity to be heard. The Department shall give a host at least 10 days' advance notice of an intention to deny, suspend, or revoke a registration and give the host an opportunity within the notice period to state why the registration should not be denied, suspended, or revoked.
(2) Action by the Department. After consideration of the host's comments, the Department may deny, suspend, or revoke a short-term residential registration for a failure to comply with the provisions of this subtitle; a failure to comply with the provisions of Article 18, Title 12, Subtitle 6 of this Code; false statements in the application; or a failure to pay overdue County taxes, fines, or fees.
(f) Assignment and transfer prohibited. An approved registration is not assignable and it does not transfer upon the sale or other transfer of the property.
(Bill No. 89-19; Bill No. 45-20; Bill No. 15-21)